Why is setup entered separately from uptime?

Because this job's setup is known from the routing, while uptime is an average from your logs. On a short run the setup can take a large share of the window.

Where do I get uptime without machine monitoring?

Use your job clock: hours booked to jobs on that machine, setups included, ÷ hours scheduled over recent months. The gap is breakdowns, waiting and unstaffed time.

Should I quote the date if capacity only just covers the order?

Only if the open hours are firm. A slipped job, a rejected first article or a rush order takes hours counted here, so book them before you quote.

What if the part runs on more than one machine?

Run it for each constrained operation with its own open hours, setup and cycle time, and promise the lowest result.

Contract Manufacturing, Job Shop Quoting & Make-to-Order calculator

Job Shop Quotable Capacity Calculator

Find how many good parts you can commit on an RFQ before its due date, and whether that covers the order. You need open machine hours, uptime, setup, cycle time, first-pass yield and the quantity.

What this calculator does

Good parts you can promise from the machine hours open before an RFQ's due date, checked against the quantity ordered.

Formula used

Run hours = MAX(0, open machine hours × uptime − setup hours)
Parts started = run hours × 60 min per hr ÷ cycle time per part
Quotable good parts = FLOOR(parts started × first-pass yield); scrap and rework = parts started × (1 − first-pass yield)
Open machine hours the order needs = (setup hours + order quantity ÷ first-pass yield × cycle time ÷ 60) ÷ uptime
Parts to start = CEILING(order quantity ÷ first-pass yield); capacity minus order = quotable good parts − order quantity

Inputs explained

Open Machine Hours Before Due Date: Hours you can book on the constraint machine after current backlog.
Uptime: Hours worked, setups included, ÷ scheduled hours, from downtime logs.
Setup Hours: Setup and first-article time for this job, from the routing.
Cycle Time per Part: Actual minutes per part on the constraint machine, from similar jobs.
First-Pass Yield: Good parts ÷ parts started on similar jobs, from inspection records.
Order Quantity: Good parts the RFQ asks for by the due date.

How to use the result

Best suited to answering the delivery date on an RFQ, choosing a split shipment or a later date.
Ignores queue time, outside processing and shipping days between the last operation and the due date. Treats yield and cycle time as steady; the first run of a new part usually runs slower.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The U.S. prime lending rate is 7.00% (Federal Reserve via FRED, 2026-10-02). Payback and financing math should start from today's rate, not a remembered one.

Common questions

Why is setup entered separately from uptime? Because this job's setup is known from the routing, while uptime is an average from your logs. On a short run the setup can take a large share of the window.
Where do I get uptime without machine monitoring? Use your job clock: hours booked to jobs on that machine, setups included, ÷ hours scheduled over recent months. The gap is breakdowns, waiting and unstaffed time.
Should I quote the date if capacity only just covers the order? Only if the open hours are firm. A slipped job, a rejected first article or a rush order takes hours counted here, so book them before you quote.
What if the part runs on more than one machine? Run it for each constrained operation with its own open hours, setup and cycle time, and promise the lowest result.

Related guides

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.